Tile device for joining permanent ceiling tile to removable ceiling tile

ABSTRACT

An improvement in a suspended ceiling tile construction wherein a permanent ceiling tile is affixed to a suspended bracket, which bracket extends toward an adjacent removable ceiling tile which improvement comprises a supporting member to join said removable tile to said bracket, a generally vertical member descending from said supporting member away from the verticle edge of said removable ceiling tile adjacent said permanent ceiling tile and rotatable means in the form of an eccentric button at the lower end thereof rotatable to dispose an eccentric portion of said button beneath said removable tile to support the same rotatable to remove said eccentric portion from beneath said ceiling tile so that the same is unsupported, the non-eccentric portion thereof disposed beneath said permanent tile; a button for securing a removable tile to a permanent ceiling tile which comprises a clip adapted to engage a structural member, a generally vertical member disposed beneath said clip remote from the exterior edge portion of said clip which engages said structural member and eccentric rotatably mounted to said vertical member.

UnitedStates Patent [191 Moeller I [111 3,828,508 [451 Aug. 13, 1974 TILE DEVICE FOR JOINING PERMANENT CEILING TILE TO REMOVABLE CEILING TILE [76] Inventor: Wolfgang Mueller, 4 Glen Cove Dr.,

Glen Head, NY. 11545 [22] Filed: July 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,871

[52] US. Cl. 52/489, 52/499 [51] Int. Cl E041) 5/52 [58] Field of Search 52/474, 481, 476, 484,

52/489, 496, 498, 499, 584, 460; 85/32 R, 32 W; 287/l89.35; 24/81 R, 81 PB, 73 PP [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,604,875 10/1926 Bogaty 52/584 1,930,187 10/1933 Abro'nski 287/l89.35 2,302,920 11/1942 Sobie 52/584 X 2,347,756 5/1944 Swenson 52/460 X 2,737,267 3/1956 Koch 287/l89.35

3,276,179 10/1966 Rallis 52/481 3,303,624 2/1967 Swain 52/496 3,710,520 1/1973 Federowicz 52/484 X Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmBurgess, Dinklage & Sprung [57] ABSTRACT An improvement in a suspended ceiling tile construction wherein a permanent ceiling tile is affixed to a suspended bracket, which bracket extends toward an adjacent removable ceiling tile which improvement comprises a supporting member to join said removable tile to said bracket, a generally vertical member descending from said supporting member away from the verticle edge of said removable ceiling tile adjacent said permanent ceiling tile and rotatable means in the form of an eccentric button at the lower end thereof rotatable to dispose an eccentric portion of said button beneath said removable tile to support the same rotatable to remove said eccentric portion from beneath said ceiling tile so that the same is unsupported,

the non-eccentric portion thereof disposed beneath said permanent tile; a button for securing a removable tile to a permanent ceiling tile which comprises a clip adapted to engage a structural member, a generally vertical member disposed beneath said clip remote from the exterior edge portion of said clip which engages said structural member and eccentric rotatably mounted to said vertical member.

I 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TILE DEVICE FOR JOINING PERMANEN CEILING TILE TO REMOVABLE CEILING TILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to suspended ceiling tile construction. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved simple device for removably securing a removable ceiling tile to a stationary ceiling tile disposed in a juxtaposition thereof, both of said ceiling tiles being in a suspended ceiling tile construction.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art In the assembly of suspended ceiling tiles framed members generally speaking are secured to the permanent ceiling via frames which descend vertically and define what is known in the trade as a Z-bar. The Z-bar is either in the shape of the letter I-I turned 90, or in the shape of a Z with the bottom horizontal member extending on either side of the vertical member. Generally, speaking a Z-bar is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,179. As seen therein the Z-bar is affixed to the permanent ceiling by use of separate clamp means and a suitable fastener such as a screw.

The Z-bar carries the suspended ceiling tiles which are appropriately mounted against the lowermost generally horizontal member. When it is desirous to dispose against a permanent ceiling tile a removable ceiling tile the prior art has provided a bracket means engageable with the Zbar which is adapted to extend over a portion of the removable panel to be disposed thereagainst. A threaded member passes through such I bracket and through the panel itself. There is positioned beneath the removable ceiling tile a generally circular button which is reciprocally threaded with the vertically disposed threaded member so that it can be screwed into the portion of the threaded member extended beneath the removable ceiling tile. The removable ceiling tile is affixed to the assembly by initially placing the bracket in position and moving the ceiling tile into position effecting creation of a hole through the ceilingtile to accommodate the vertically positioned threaded member. When the ceiling tile is in place the generally circular button is screwed onto the portion of the threaded member extending beneath the ceiling tile.

When it is desired to remove the ceiling tile the but ton must be completely removed from the assembly before the removable ceiling tile can be lowered. When removed the space occupied by the removable ceiling tile still contains the bracket member which extends inwardly from the edge of the permanent ceiling tile. When one bears in mind that a present reason for providing removable ceiling tiles in commercial installation is to provide access to structural members such as wires and airconditioning ducts, it is seen that it is a decided disadvantage to have a projecting bracket in the limited space provided in which to carry out the inspection of or modification to the structural members. Specifically, the average workman can readily harm himself or his clothing when working in such narrow space because he will undoubtedly come into engagement with the relatively permanent bracket on which to fasten and secure the removable ceiling tile via the button.

There is still another decided disadvantage which resides in the fact that the button must be removed free of the balance of the assembly. Bearing in mind its small size it can readily get lost thereby necessitating the replacement of the button and the additional nuisance when it is time to reinsert the ceiling tile. A third distinct disadvantage of the ceiling tile construction resides in the fact that it is necessary to make a hole completely through the ceiling tile to accommodate the threaded member. Such is difficult to do without creating a mess and without undoubtedly mutilating the removable ceiling tile.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a simple means for securing a removable ceiling tile to a permanent ceiling tile wherein the ceiling tile does not undergo mutilation when being fitted, the button member does not become detached from the vertical member and the bracket does not extend through the space above the removable ceiling tile to provide an obstruction when the tile is removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly, this invention contemplates an improvement in a suspended ceiling tile construction wherein a permanent ceiling tile is affixed to a suspended bracket which bracket extends toward an adjacent removable ceiling tile, the improvement comprising a supporting member adapted to join said removable tile to said bracket, a vertical member descending from said supporting member a distance away from the vertical edge of said removable ceiling tile adjacent said permanent ceiling tile and rotatable means in the form of an eccentric button at the lower end thereof rotatable with respect to said vertical member to dispose an eccentric portion of said button beneath said removable ceiling tile to support the same and rotatable to remove said eccentric portion from beneath said ceiling tile so that the same is unsupported, the non-eccentric portion thereof disposed beneath said permanent ceiling tile.

In a particularly desirable embodiment this invention contemplates a button for securing a removable ceiling tile to a permanent ceiling tile which comprises a clip adapted to engage a structural member, a generally vertical member disposed beneath said clip remote from the exterior edge portion of said clip which engages said structural member and an eccentric rotatably mounted to said vertical member.

The present invention operates in contravention to the recommendations of the prior art, notably U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,179, supra and U.S. Pat. No. 2,890,583. In accordance with the present invention means are provided to secure the fastening member to a horizontal edge of the Z-bar which holds the permanent ceiling tile. The edge to which the securing member of the present invention is placed extends from a permanent ceiling tile in the space to be occupied by a subsequent ceiling tile. The member of the present invention is secured thereto and has a vertical portion adapted to engage the edge of the permanent ceiling tile so as to be positioned substantially in the same vertical plane as the vertical support for the brackets or Z-bar and to lie slightly inwardly of the permanent ceiling tile. Positioned in rotatable relationship to the vertical member and secured thereto is an eccentric button having an eccentric portion adapted to underlie and support a removable ceiling tile disposed in juxtaposition to the permanent ceiling tile. The button has a non-eccentric portion of a minor dimension such that when the eccentric portion is removed from out of contact relationship to the removable ceiling tile the non-eccentric portion does not underlie the removable ceiling tile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily understood and appreciated when reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a suspended ceiling tile construction showing bracket member or Z-bar affixed to a ceiling. The fastening means is not shown;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view similar to FIG. 1 showing how the removable ceiling tile is removed by rotation of the button in the direction shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevation of the button of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the lines of 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS A specific embodiment of the subject invention is depicted in the accompanying drawings in which a Z-bar is provided having a top flange member 22 suitably affixed to a structure 24 to a use of fastening means or clamps (not shown). The Z-bar 20 has a vertical portion 26 which terminates in a lower generally horizontal portion 28 consisting of'a portion 30 wherein the metal is bent over upon itself to form an edge. The metal continues to form an opposed horizontal edge member 32. ltwill be understood that the proposed mode of construction for these Z-bar members is continuous metal. However, separate members 30 and 32 could be provided adhered to vertical member 26.

A permanent ceiling tile bears against member 30 by virtue of a recess 42 on the edge thereof. A removable ceiling tile 44 is disposed in edge to edge relationship separated only by the fastening means of the present invention. Thus, there is seen that the fastening means of the present invention comprises a generally U-shaped clip 50 bent around a terminal edge of member 32 of the Z-bar. Suitably member 32 can have a return 34 seen better in FIG. 2. Clip 50 has a detent 52 so that the surface of the clip projects towards the member 32 as shown in FIG. 2. The clip 50 runs along the bottom of member 32 and terminates in a generally vertical member 54 threaded at 56. Suitably there is provided a brace member 58 beneath an extension of clip 50 which extension is given reference numeral 62. Brace member 58 is relatively thin so that it can pierce the generally foraminous ceiling tile forming an angle as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 4 which angle is angle a and is no greater than 40. The idea here is that the brace 58 by virtue of having a pointed tip can readily enable the entire support structure to slide into the edge of the permanent ceiling tile 40 as seen in FIG. 1. Generally integrated therewith, there is a threaded portion 56 which receives an eccentrically shaped button member 70 internally threaded to be rotatable on threads 56. The button member has a generally plainer top 72, a major eccentric portion 74 and a minor noneccentric portion 76. The dimension of the noneccentric portion is such that it is no greater than the free space to remain between the edge 78 of a removable panel and the edge of the generally vertical member 54, the space being identified by reference numeral 82 in FIG. 1. It is apparent that the button need not have a cut-out portion 84 defining a generally arcuate upwardly sloping exterior surface 86 as the same could be solid it being required that the eccentric portion 74 be of a dimension to underlie the lower edge 88 of removable ceiling tile 44.

Operation of the device is easy. When a permanent ceiling tile 40 is disposed over member 30 which is a portion of the Z-bar, the generally U-shaped clip member with its integral verticlal member and brace already containing the button member are drawn in over member 32 and the brace member 58 is given a gentle push so that the entire assembly is engaged within the edge of permanent ceiling tile 40 as shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter the removable ceiling tile is drawn in position to have the lip member 90 with its upper surface 92 such that the upper surface 92 engages the lower surface 94 of the device of the present invention. Thereafter the eccentric button is turned so as to dispose the eccentric portion 74 beneath edge 88. Thereafter the lip 90 of removable ceiling 44 may drop slightly so that it is level with the button exposed surface 96 of permanent ceiling tile 40. When it is desired to remove the removable ceiling tile for access to the space 98 thereabove the button is rotated in accordance with the arrow 100 or, for that matter, in the opposite direction depending upon the threading 56 of vertical member 54. The then unsupported removable ceiling tile 44 will drop to expose the void 98. From the above it is seen that the device of the present invention is not characterized by any of the details of the prior art devices. Specifically, no brackets need be placed upon member 32 of the Z-bar to carry a subsequent vertical disposed through the removable ceiling tile. Additionally, the button member need not be removed, only twisted about and thus there is no chance that the same will become lost. Furthermore, the same is provided by providing only a minimal thickness of material affixed to member 32 of the .Z-bar. Thus, the danger of a workman catching himself or his clothing on a cumbersome bracket protruding through the space 98 is minimized to an appreciable extent.

From the above it is seen that the concept of the present invention is quite simple. The prior art, however, has resorted to cumbersome means for accomplishing the same result employing significantly more expensive support members which devices have presented problems in installation and in use. It is apparent that various modifications of the present device are available to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. Thus, the vertical member to which the eccentric button is attached can be affixed to the Z-bar or other support for the suspended ceiling by any suitable means which, in turn, will depend upon the type of suspended hardware employed. The present invention should not be viewed as limited to the horizontally disposed U- shaped clipping although the same functions quite well.

Thus the terms and expressions used herein have been used as terms and expressions of illustration and not of limitation as there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents, or positions thereof, as various modifications of and departures from the above disclosure may become apparent to one skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suspended ceiling tile construction wherein a permanent ceiling tile is affixed to a suspended bracket which bracket extends toward an adjacent removable ceiling tile, the improvement which comprises a generally vertical member affixed to a portion of said bracket extending toward said removable ceiling tile and extending along the vertical edge of the said removable tile adjacent said permanent tile in the space between said permanent tile and said removable tile, said vertical member terminating in a rotatable means in the form of an eccentric button at the lower end thereof rotatable with respect to said vertical member to dispose an eccentric portion of said button beneath said removable ceiling tile to support the same and rotatable to remove said eccentric button from beneath said ceiling tile so that the same is unsupported, the non-eccentric portion thereof disposed beneath said permanent ceiling tile.

2. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said vertical member is joined to said bracket by a sup porting member which is in the form of a generally horizontal U-shaped member which engages a generally horizontal flange of a Z-bar bracket.

3. An improvement according to claim 2 wherein there is disposed adjacent said vertical member a brace member maintained within said edge of said permanent ceiling tile.

4. An improvement according to claim 3 wherein said vertical member is recessed within the edge of said permanent ceiling tile and said eccentric button has beneath its eccentric portion an exterior arcuate shape.

5. An improvement according to claim 4 wherein the eccentric button is interiorly threaded, the vertical member at its tip is exteriorly threaded to receive the interior threads of said eccentric button. 

1. In a suspended ceiling tile construction wherein a permanent ceiling tile is affixed to a suspended bracket which bracket extends toward an adjacent removable ceiling tile, the improvement which comprises a generally vertical member affixed to a portion of said bracket extending toward said removable ceiling tile and extending along the vertical edge of the said removable tile adjacent said permanent tile in the space between said permanent tile and said removable tile, said vertical member terminating in a rotatable means in the form of an eccentric button at the lower end thereof rotatable with respect to said vertical member to dispose an eccentric portion of Said button beneath said removable ceiling tile to support the same and rotatable to remove said eccentric button from beneath said ceiling tile so that the same is unsupported, the non-eccentric portion thereof disposed beneath said permanent ceiling tile.
 2. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said vertical member is joined to said bracket by a supporting member which is in the form of a generally horizontal U-shaped member which engages a generally horizontal flange of a Z-bar bracket.
 3. An improvement according to claim 2 wherein there is disposed adjacent said vertical member a brace member maintained within said edge of said permanent ceiling tile.
 4. An improvement according to claim 3 wherein said vertical member is recessed within the edge of said permanent ceiling tile and said eccentric button has beneath its eccentric portion an exterior arcuate shape.
 5. An improvement according to claim 4 wherein the eccentric button is interiorly threaded, the vertical member at its tip is exteriorly threaded to receive the interior threads of said eccentric button. 